Reneging? Please help

Reneging on a contract is always a tricky situation, but not uncommon. If you do it respectfully, no one is going to hold a grudge against you. Don’t feel loyal to those companies, you are replaceable in the blink of an eye - do what is best for your career.

Good luck bro

if you renege, you essentially are voluntarily breaching contractual terms and thus terminating the contract

the counterparty can pursue litigation, but will not receive any remedies (ie no monetary damage suffered by them other than the cost of recruiting/hiring you)

this is why in most cases, firms wouldn’t pursue legal action except maybe blacklist you

You are an at-will employee. Read the section in your offer about that, it will say something about how your or your bank can terminate your employment at will. You have an employment agreement not a contract.

You can renege and simply not tell them where you’re going. There should be no legal reprecussions to this under the terms of your offer of employment if you are at-will. Just read what’s in there. This is not legal advice.

Totally legally. Your contract will have a termination clause. Adhere to that. You will likely be unable to go back to that group in the future, until the people you annoyed have moved on.